by Alan Langstaff

In the last Langstaff Letter, I asked people to use their imagination and see reality as being a number of sheets of paper on top of each other.
Sheet 1 represented ourselves, the flesh.
Sheet 2 represented the culture, the world.
Sheet 3 represented politics.
Sheet 4 represented globalists.
Sheet 5 represented the Devil.
All together they have an accumulated effect Ephesians 2 verse 1-3 highlights. The three main enemies we face – the world, the flesh, and the devil.

In this letter, I want to suggest actions we should take to avoid the effect that these realities have upon us. So let us look at them one by one.

SHEET # 1 – OURSELVES, THE FLESH

When we get saved we are what John chapter 3 describes as being “born again.” As a result, we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light and we are accepted through Christ and His death upon the cross. He takes our sins and we are no longer under condemnation.

Positionally we have received from Christ the righteousness of God in Christ. But we are not meant to stop there. We are intended to grow and become more and more like Jesus. So from a personal and practical point of view, we are to enter a process called sanctification. This is a lifetime pursuit and through it all, we are to die to self and be alive in Christ. We are to resist the power of temptation and pursue holiness. Paul has a lot to share about all this and it is more than we can write here. In all this we live by faith.

SHEET # 2 – THE CULTURE, THE WORLD

As previously noted we are constantly bombarded by the culture we live in, by the pull of the world. This is a constant attack on our values and our practices. J.B. Phillip, the British scholar, translates Romans 12 as “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its own mold.” This requires constant deliberate action on our part so that these influences of the culture, the world around us do not supersede a biblical worldview.

SHEET # 3 – POLITICS

This is actually a subsection of the previous sheet on the culture and the world, but because it has such a powerful effect on how we live and what we believe, it needs to be examined separately. In some cases, politics almost supersedes God, as people want politicians to provide what only God can provide. On top of that because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God it is only expected that politics and politicians can and do become corrupt.

Consequently, there are a few things we can do:
a) Examine all the issues, especially in an Election season to see how they measure up to a biblical worldview.
b) Pray for our leaders as Paul exhorts us to do. See 1 Timothy 2:1-3.
c) Vote. We can not all go to Washington, but we can help determine who does. We need to prayerfully consider where to cast our votes.

SHEET # 4 – GLOBALISTS

This also is a subsection of culture and the world. As pointed out there are people who are working towards the establishment of a “one world government.” To do this requires what is called “The Great Reset.”

The world as it is today is not likely to see that happen. There are too many powerful nations, etc for that to happen now – what with Russia, China, North Korea, the Western World, India, the Muslim world, etc. as well as America. But it could still happen in the not-too-distant future.

There are many people who believe we are moving into the End times leading up to the return of Christ often described as “the second coming.” All this involves the coming rapture of believers, followed by the seven-year period of the Tribulation. So, Christ will return in the rapture He came for the church and at the end of the tribulation, He returns with the church and all this leads to the final battle of Armageddon and the final conquest of Satan.

So the ultimate globalist is the Antichrist. Praise God we know who wins and Christ shall return as the King of all. However, the antichrist during the tribulation will bring about a one-world government.

SHEET # 5 – THE DEMONIC

Many people do not believe in the Devil. Jesus did and so should we even though we may not physically see him. He is the ultimate enemy of God and therefore the enemy of God’s people. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

We must remember he is still powerful but nowhere near as powerful as God. He is not the equal and opposite of God. He is defeated and for whose end will soon come.

James tells us in chapter 4 verse 7 to “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (NKJV). Peter reminds us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV). So be on your guard. We need not fear him because we are on the winning side and we win.

So what are we to do to live victoriously? Let me give some suggestions on how to stand against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

EXAMINE YOURSELF

Paul in his teaching communion states “Let a man examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28 NKJV). Now that is good advice not just for a communion service but in regard to the whole of life. Likewise, Galatians 6:4 declares “Let each one examine his own work.”

Examine means to look closely at a matter, study it carefully, and discern it closely. In these situations, it is the responsibility of individual believers to do it. No one can really do it for you, but with the help of the Holy Spirit you can take stock of our lives and observe carefully what you are actually doing, so here are some ideas.

Years ago I read a booklet by Dr. Sangster, a great preacher in England in the middle of the last century. He suggested asking yourself some questions. So here is a similar thought:

a) THE WORLD
Do you go along with the crowd and get involved in activities that are unbiblical?
What TV shows do you watch?
What books or magazines do you read?
Examine yourself by asking those kinds of questions of yourself. A Christian girl I knew when she went to college decided she would not view any “R” rated movies with the other girls in her dorm.

b) THE FLESH
Have you examined yourself in this regard? See the previous Langstaff Letter on “the besetting sin.” Are you able to stand up against those issues that undermine your spiritual walk with the Lord?

c) THE DEVIL
How do you handle temptation? How do you do when you are in a battle with the Devil? Do you give the Devil openings for you to be attacked? Do you know how to pray for victory over the Devil and his demons who have come to steal, kill, and destroy?

Now it is more than dealing with the three things we face ie the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is necessary to take initiative and pursue holiness and the Lord. As a bit of doggerel declares “You’ve got to accentuate the positive / Eliminate the negative.”

So it is necessary to pursue those things in our life that are positive and those things that will strongly build up our spiritual life.

They are usually basic things like prayer and Bible reading (study and memorization). It is essential to be part of a local church and together with other believers in worship, work, and fellowship together.
We will be strong and in turn, we can fight against the three basic enemies of Ephesians chapter 2 – i.e. the world, the flesh, and the devil.

IT CAN HAPPEN – YOU CAN WIN

Some of you know that I have a friend called “Irish Johnny.” He calls me “Doc.” I first met him over 20 years ago when I was invited to minister at a maximum security prison in Ohio. He videoed an interview with me for use in Ohio prisons. We hit it off and we became good friends. He was in prison for murder, so he was there for a long time. He was second in charge of the “white supremacy” group in the prison but he got saved and became a passionate Christian.

Eventually, he applied for parole and initially, he was turned down. He applied again and together with other people I wrote to the Parole Board on his behalf. So he got released and has been passionate for God ever since. Just recently, he wrote to me and let me quote a portion of his letter. It is always exciting to see God at work in the life of a person like “Irish Johnny.” So don’t tell me God can’t give you the grace to live in victory and act according to His word.

Here is a portion of Irish Johnny’s letter:

“I love [the] teaching on “Snares!” [in the Langstaff Letter.] I am working with a few disciples right now that I want to share this with [them].

I also thought I might catch you up on our lives currently. I applied to the IRS two years ago for our ministry to be given 501c3 status and they awarded us with it. I named the ministry, Made To Be Free Ministries. I based this name on John 8:31-32. Since then I have been sharing my testimony, the Word, and the things I learned in prison with men and women in prisons all over Ohio. I have also been asked to speak at several churches, and Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. Two years ago Prison Fellowship asked me to speak for them at their Hope Events and I have been in several prisons with them.”

So Johnny came out of a physical prison and out of a spiritual prison. He is now serving the Lord and has a new ministry. His life is a powerful testimony of how one can be set free and in turn love and serve the Lord.

How about you and I? Are we living in victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil?

ONE IMPORTANT LAST THOUGHT

Let us remember this one important fact, although at times the reality of our lives and the world, etc may be dark. We need to remember that God is still in control. Jesus is Lord. We win. History, be it our own lives or the world around us, is under His control. So be not afraid or fear for the future, always remember God is in control. Jesus is Lord.